Iran to Launch Homegrown “Mesbah” Satellite into Orbit

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TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Head of the Iranian Space Organization Mohsen Bahrami announced on Tuesday that the country will launch the indigenous “Mesbah” satellite into orbit in the near future, adding that a new version of the satellite is also under construction.

Addressing a specialized meeting of high-ranking officials of Iran’s Space Organization in Karaj, west of Tehran, Bahrami said the Mesbah2 (Lantern) and “Nahid” satellites are under construction.

He added that the domestically-made Mesbah satellite is ready to be launched into the orbit.

Referring to Iran’s achievements in the fields of satellite and satellite carrier, Bahrami announced that “Amir Kabir”, “Zafar (victory)” and “Doosti (friendship)” are three other satellites which are also under construction and will be soon sent to the space.

Iran successfully launched into orbit its first indigenous data-processing satellite, Omid (Hope), back on February 2, 2009.

As part of a comprehensive plan to develop its space program, Iran also successfully launched its second satellite, dubbed Rassad (Observation), into the earth’s orbit in June 2011. Rassad’s mission was to take images of the earth and transmit them along with telemetry information to ground stations.

The country’s third domestically-built Navid-e Elm-o Sanat (Harbinger of Science and Industry) satellite was sent into orbit in February 2012.

In January 2013, Iran sent a monkey into space aboard an indigenous bio-capsule code-named Pishgam (Pioneer).

And later in December 2013, the country’s scientists successfully sent a monkey, called ‘Fargam’ or Auspicious, into space aboard Pajoheshan (Research) indigenous rocket and returned the live simian back to earth safely.